Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 260 'Maybe we were mistaken'. The heresy trial that the Religious Order conducted using the Saint's authority was concluded in such a manner. The city officials were naturally outraged. It was a clear act of overreach where the Religious Order prioritized the Saint's authority over the city's position. The Religious Order's unreasonable demands were tolerated because of the meaning that the name "Saint" carried. When the Saint says "This city. Impure," the city has no choice but to cooperate in panic. If left unchecked, Paladins, wandering Knights, and self-proclaimed Heroes would swarm in from across the Continent. But now, the cause and result are summarized in one phrase: "the Saint's misunderstanding"? Then there was no reason for the city to remain idle either. The attention of Bondaless officials, including the city Nobles, focused on her. That pure white girl. Acting City Councilor Fienne. Her actions of suddenly appearing one day to turn Back Alleys criminals into model citizens and further replacing corrupt City Councilors were already famous within the city. -They drove that Acting City Councilor's person as a Fiend... With her personality, she absolutely won't let this slide. They believed she would carry out merciless revenge against the Religious Order. There was nothing more terrifying than a person in power who had gained justification! "It's fine. No need to stir up unnecessary trouble." However, her response was surprisingly rational. An insult toward a Noble's person was an insult toward that Noble! For a Noble, it was absolutely unbearable. It wasn't even an ordinary insult. "Are you really alright with this, Lady Fienne? They treated Lady Fienne's person as a Fiend. That means-" What if the heresy trial had resulted in a guilty verdict? What if the conclusion was that Fienne's person was a Fiend? In that case, Fienne would have immediately received the highest level of suspicion from the Religious Order. Rumors of being a Demon's lackey would have spread instantly, leading to complete social burial. Yet she could react so calmly to this? "I could demand responsibility and compensation with justification. But if I completely deny the Saint's position like that, I would naturally become enemies with the Religious Order." "..." "And since I'm currently in a position representing the city as Acting City Councilor, the relationship between myself and the Religious Order will naturally affect the city as well. So I think it's right for me to step back here." "...If you do that, it will leave a clear precedent that the Religious Order and the Saint owe a debt to Lady Fienne." "Exactly, Lord Dray. As long as such a precedent remains on record, it will be difficult for the Religious Order to raise their voice in our city from now on. Even if a High Priest, or even a Great Priest comes." (E/N: Not sure what a Great Priest is. Seems like a position that is at the level of a saint?) "In Bondaless, where the Religious Order's power is already weak, it will become even more distant for the Religious Order to extend their branches." "That's right." Using religion as justification to take root in the city and naturally form influence. Among the city's power holders, the Religious Order was clearly a nuisance. Acting City Councilor Fienne's decision could be said to perfectly check such a Religious Order. "Ooh...!" Acting City Councilor Fienne. Talent Scout Dray. Admiration burst forth among the city Nobles who watched their conversation. In fact, some city Nobles had been looking at Fienne with dissatisfaction. A wanderer of unclear origin had suddenly appeared and seized the top position in the city. Acknowledge such a youngster of unclear identity as a city Noble equal to themselves? Furthermore, acknowledge her as their leader? It was not easy for the proud city Nobles. In that regard, Fienne's actions this time gave them a new impression. "To think so far ahead in such a short time..." That appearance of prioritizing the group's interests over her own honor was difficult to see unless one was quite an experienced Noble. "I respect Lady Fienne's choice!" The city Nobles who were present one by one directed their support toward Fienne. Thus, Fienne's judgment convinced all the city Nobles and furthermore earned their respect. Saying it was a mature and devoted judgment befitting the position of Acting City Councilor! ...They didn't know. 'I'm alive!' The fact that the Acting City Councilor was simply being defensive after being caught! -Her? She's actually a vampire. -Me? I'm actually a Progenitor. -But why weren't we caught? -Don't know. That man must have done something. A sacred ritual using the First Saint's power. Originally, it wouldn't have been strange at all for the vampire's identity to be exposed. Even if that aura had been altered under the influence of 'that man'. The reason they could still safely get through? It was entirely thanks to 'that man'. Thanks to the sacred ritual being composed of that man's Aura- The vampire influenced by that man could remain safe. -We're sacred vampires who don't bite people carelessly! Their innocence, which no one would believe, was proven thanks to such fortune and luck. In such a situation, to push forward without knowing satisfaction? If the Saint then clicked her tongue and said "Retry?" there would be no greater disaster. "..." Did he have the same thought? Dray, who had been conversing with her, looked at Fienne and smiled bitterly. The face of one man came to mind. Risir. Considerable time had passed since he left. In Bondaless, there was an enormous void as great as that man's presence. But why was it? They could feel that man's presence remarkably strongly. "The father of the World Tree...? And now a... Saint? What in the world is he doing...?" (E/N: That's false accusation! He is most definitely not the father of the World Tree!) A faltering voice and smile. Rona struggled to complete the sentence. *** Thus the incident related to the Saint seemed to be concluding. However, the morning after the heresy trial, at Gus's Mansion, another gathering was hosted centered around Fienne's group and Palag's group. "It's somewhat concerning." The beginning was the discomfort felt by the Archmage. "Are you referring to that Saint?" At Dray's words, Palag nodded. He spoke to the group. "You all. Didn't you feel something strange about that Saint?" "When you say strange-" "...Dray. You clearly said it. The current Saint, Asrania, due to her weakened Aura, is monopolizing all sorts of Elixirs and Blessings from the Religious Order." "That's correct." "Yet, that weakened Aura shows no signs of recovery at all." "According to information from my friends, yes. As you say." "But that's strange." "Yes?" Palag recalled. During the trial. That moment when the Saint's composure was briefly disturbed by the unexpected situation. At that moment. Another aspect she had revealed. "That Saint. She seemed to be hiding her power. And vast power that could easily surpass even me." "The Saint is hiding her power...? Why...?" Rona's murmur represented the question everyone felt. "You all." Then, Palag spoke to the gathering. Those who filled the seats were individuals Palag had carefully selected through strict criteria. As experienced ones(?), those who could sympathize with his leaping logic! "That Saint. Isn't she somehow suspicious?" "...!!!" To dare suspect the Saint. Even for those who didn't serve the Master of the Sacred Fire, it was shocking. "W-wait...! Lord Palag! Isn't that too hasty- a dangerous thought!?" As the owner of the Mansion and head of the Great Trading Company, Gus was alarmed. "He is right. To touch the Saint. No matter how much of a Frozen Breath he is, it could lead to consequences he cannot handle." Similarly, Gadena, the ancient text specialist, also expressed concern. "Hmm..." Then Palag fell into anguish. He too was in a situation where he couldn't have confidence. How to accept this. Also, how to explain this. Vague and blurry thoughts like fog thickly filled his head. Then. He spoke quietly. "Risir..." The situation where Risir's Aura had interfered with the Saint. In such a situation, it was a kind of code or suggestion to approach it with Risir-like thinking. "Why suddenly that person's name here-" "Aha!" Gadena looked at Master Meltas who had interrupted his words. "Meltas. What do you mean by aha-" "Indeed..." This time he looked at Fienne, who interrupted his words and was nodding. Looking around, it wasn't just those two. Everyone present was nodding and understanding. 'Risir' they say. How reasonable that is. "Lord Palag!!! Thinking as you said- definitely, the Saint does seem suspicious!!!" "Mm. As expected, Master Meltas. I can see why the world praises you as wise." At their enthusiastic banquet, Gadena felt his mind becoming confused. "Wisdom... that's supposed to be..." To suspect the Saint. Gadena had no intention of going along with that madness. He tried to hurriedly leave the place before his own thinking could be changed by their influence. "Gadena, where are you going?" The braided-haired old man spoke to such an Elf. "..." Gadena was momentarily speechless. Like suddenly storming out of a classroom during a lesson? He felt like he had become the one acting abnormally among normal people. You heard it. Risir, they say. You understand, right? "Oh World Tree..." The Elf recalled that great being to protect himself in confusion. Then, instead of the sacred tree, some human's face came to mind. "Ah." The Elf's mind became confused. *** Elf Gadena joined their plan. The expression "swept along" would be more appropriate, but anyway. Gadena had spent considerable time in Bondaless and developed his own affection for it. Now, Gadena's wish was only one thing. 'If they suffer severe trouble from this incident, they'll come to their senses.' May those who could be called key figures of the city Bondaless awaken from their madness before going further. May the humans' Saint perform a miracle! "I won't deny it. Your suspicions were correct. I was hiding my power and hiding my identity. A heretical spy who infiltrated to cause chaos within the Religious Order. That is my true identity." "No-" Gadena's wish was denied. The Saint looked at Fienne's group who had come to find her with an expression of "what was bound to come has come." And then, she called them aside for a calm conversation, and in that process revealed all the truth. Gadena briefly wondered if these people were conspiring to tease him. "Is it alright for someone who is a heretical spy to reveal their identity so easily?" To Gadena's reasonable question, the Saint responded with a smile. It was such a devout smile that one couldn't think of her as a heretic acting as a Saint. "I am prepared to atone." The Saint closed her eyes softly and clasped her hands together. "Your timely appearance before me must be the Master of the Sacred Fire pointing out that time." Gadena and all of Fienne's group were momentarily overwhelmed. The faith the Saint displayed- That complete, pure, and firm faith. It was then that Palag felt something unusual. "You..." He gazed intently at the Saint and said. "Have you lost your power?" Palag was putting all his nerves on edge, determined to see through the Saint's hidden identity and power this time. To such Palag's eyes, it was clearly visible. The Saint had lost all her hidden power and been reborn as the truthful being she appeared to be. The current her was undoubtedly a weakened existence. Her Aura evoked dandelion seeds, creating a precariousness that seemed like it would disappear if swayed. But how could this be? Palag could feel a more vivid presence from her than before. For a moment, Palag's and the Saint's eyes met. "...!" Gasp. Palag unconsciously swallowed. In her eyes seemed to reside a light that no fire or darkness could extinguish. "Yes." The Saint who answered showed no lingering attachment. Even though she had lost vast power that even an Archmage couldn't fathom. "How...?" "The Master of the Sacred Fire took it away." "You mean all the power you had...?" "No. That was not power. It was vain, meaningless, foolish- my past mistakes." "..." They don't believe in the existence of the Master of the Sacred Fire. But now they were feeling the existence of the Master of the Sacred Fire. Through the Saint. "Did you... meet the Master of the Sacred Fire?" Palag spoke carefully. The Saint created a spotlessly clean smile. "I believe so." *** Fienne's group returned to Gus's Mansion after finishing their dialogue with the Saint. "Is this alright..." Gadena muttered with doubt. They ultimately didn't reveal the Saint's identity to the believers. The reason was simple. The changed her was too much to denounce as not being a Saint- -Is that so. Then... it's not yet time. This too is the Master of the Sacred Fire's will. I shall accept it. She was too much like a Saint. "The Master of the Sacred Fire... does he really exist?" Rona had once denied all sacred beings as a Desire Demon. She verbally revealed the confusion she was currently feeling. "..." Acting City Councilor. Master of the Magic Tower. Archmage. Great Noble. None of them could answer Rona's words. "Perhaps-" "Hmm?" Then. The Elf opened his mouth. Gadena. He spoke with a confused expression. "The being called the Master of the Sacred Fire that the Saint witnessed. Actually, isn't it that person?" "That person?" "Risir." "..." They looked at Gadena one by one. Then, suddenly the serious atmosphere dispersed. Pfft. They each burst into laughter. "Gadena. Yes. You're also gradually getting used to it. But you've become too absorbed. You've gone too far." A young disciple advocating an absurd hypothesis. Wouldn't a teacher show such a smile when looking at such a disciple? Meltas looked at Gadena with a pleased smile. "..." Gadena belatedly realized what he had said. He felt blood rushing to his face with embarrassment. 'Bondaless. I must escape.' He felt abnormal symptoms in his thinking. (E/N: Indeed, you have become wise beyond your peers) *** Risir, who had recovered the 'Vessel' from Asrania. The first measure he took was to return the Aura that had been stolen from Tara. It wasn't a difficult task. The First Saint who had reached the pinnacle of Divinity. What she needed was not help but determination. "Oh..." Tara Dollin recovering her Aura from the Vessel. Risir unconsciously let out an exclamation watching her. Her overwhelming Aura, which had already inspired awe, had become stronger than before. 'This is the true... First Saint... huh?' Thus, it was when Risir was admiring Tara's Aura. Before Tara Dollin recovered all the sacred Aura contained in the 'Vessel', she handed it to Risir. "Lady Tara?" And then she left without a word. "She's embarrassed." Then, the fairy Shuyen said. "Embarrassed...?" "Yes. Right now she wants to say various things like thank you, sorry- but she's putting on airs because she's afraid she might cry without realizing it if she gets emotional. She did that once before too. She may not look it, but she's incredibly thoughtful. She cries a lot..." "Then giving this to me..." "Is it like the meaning of a flower handed over shyly?" Shuyen!!! Don't say unnecessary things!!! Tara's cry from afar was somehow emotional, just as Shuyen had said. "Aha..." Risir smiled bitterly and carefully put away the necklace. *** That night's evening. Tara Dollin was staying up all night for once. Her mind was complicated by what had happened today, and she couldn't sleep at all. "..." There were truly many thoughts and emotions- What dominated her mind right now was one worry. Saint Asrania. The worry that someone might be behind her. The worry that they might be threatening the Religious Order. Tara thought. If there was someone behind her, what kind of being would that be? What kind of being could threaten the Religious Order with the pure power called 'Divinity'? -Tara Dollin... (E/N: Please, Tara Dollin, save me!) "...!" At that moment. Tara opened her eyes wide and stood up. A voice heard from somewhere coincided with her question. "This voice..." It was certain. It was the voice of the Demon that Tara Dollin had purified during her lifetime. The purified Darkness. That Demon, who had once been the incarnation of negativity, had been purified by Tara Dollin and become a being of Divinity. Tara had confirmed that the subject's heart had also become closer to sacred Aura rather than negativity. However. What if that was an act? Or what if it had belatedly regained its original corrupt nature? Then, a being threatening the Religious Order with Divinity would be explained. "Huff... huff...!" Tara was already running after the voice. Her weakened body, not yet fully recovered, began to creak unable to withstand the vigorous movement. Even so, Tara didn't stop. And for good reason. That voice was coming from Risir's room. 'Could it be, that Vessel...!!! Was that thing's Aura remaining in that Vessel!?' The purified Darkness had been hiding in the 'Vessel', holding its breath. Risir. It had been waiting for him to be alone and defenseless! The pent-up anger toward its nemesis. It had chosen Risir as a tool to release that! 'Risir is in danger...!' Tara felt desperate and ran to Risir's room. The moment she burst through the door. -Tara Dollin... The purified Darkness spoke to her. In a very secretive voice so that the soundly sleeping Risir couldn't hear. What kind of sinister plot was it devising without Risir knowing? Tara tensely listened to that voice. -Please separate me from this person... I'll do whatever you tell me to do... "...?" This was the identity of the plot the Demon had devised without the man knowing. It was begging for its life to the Saint, its longtime nemesis.